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Updated: Jun 9, 2025
Determining the Toxicity of UV Radiation and Chemicals on Primary and Immortalized Human Corneal Epithelial Cells
Published on: July 22, 2021
Hyaluronate Protects From Benzalkonium Chloride-Induced Ocular Surface Toxicity
Alexia Vereertbrugghen1, Manuela Pizzano1, Florencia Sabbione1
1Innate Immunity Laboratory, Institute of Experimental Medicine (CONICET/National Academy of Medicine of Buenos Aires), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of sodium hyaluronate (SH) on benzalkonium chloride (BAK)-induced toxicity in the ocular surface epithelium and corneal nerves.
Methods:
Ocular surface epithelial cells from Balb/c mice were cultured with 0.1% to 0.4% SH and 0.001% to 0.01% BAK and their metabolic activity, viability, and wound repair capacity were assessed in vitro. Following a controlled corneal wound, re-epithelialization and recovery of epithelial barrier function and mechanosensitivity were measured in Balb/c mice treated with 0.4% SH 3 times/day and 0.01% BAK twice daily for 3 weeks. Nerve morphology was assessed by confocal microscopy of corneal whole mounts.
Results:
Whereas BAK exposure reduced metabolic activity, viability, and wound repair ability of ocular epithelial cells in vitro, pretreatment with SH ameliorated BAK toxicity in a concentration-dependent manner. The highest SH concentration partially reversed the effects of 0.01% BAK in vitro and increased the corneal healing rate of BAK-exposed mice. Although all corneal wounds closed after 4 days, continuous SH treatment improved corneal barrier dysfunction 18 days after wounding and accelerated the recovery of corneal mechanical sensitivity to baseline levels in BAK-exposed mice. SH treatment also increased corneal nerve density in the wounded area after 3 weeks.
Conclusions:
SH mitigates BAK-associated ocular epithelial and neurotoxicity in a concentration-dependent manner.
Translational Relevance:
Commercially available, high-concentration SH formulations may have added benefits in treating BAK-associated ocular surface toxicity.
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